Ten years ago, TingTing Huang quit her office job in search of a new adventure. The change, not knowing it at the time, landed her in a position where her office is now in the sky.
After discovering her passion for flight, TingTing knew the aviation industry was for her. She packed up all her belongings, moved to the United States, and paid her way through flight school.
Now, she is one of Bell’s highly-skilled pilot instructors based at the Bell Training Academy (BTA).
“I was scared to take the leap into the aviation field, but I got out of my comfort zone and trusted myself. Taking the first step was the hardest, but now that my office is in the sky, I look back and feel very proud of myself,” said TingTing.
As a Bell pilot instructor, TingTing is tasked with training customers on customized flight instruction through 3-D courseware, simulators, and practical exercises, including full-touch down autorotation. She frequently trains customers, ranging from new to seasoned pilots, on the Bell 505 and Bell 407GXi.
“The Bell 505 and Bell 407GXi are both highly advanced aircraft. Between the rotor system, reliability, and advanced flight controls that allow for reduced pilot workload, I take pride in being able to train our customers on both of these aircraft,” said TingTing.
Since joining the Bell team five years ago, she has used her expertise to train hundreds of customers to successfully navigate during emergency situations that they may face in the field.
Deputy Wade Boan, Bay County Sheriff’s Office’s Bell 206 pilot, was one of those customers. He adds, “I was in an emergency situation while out on a mission. No kidding – I had TingTing’s voice in my head walking me through it, step by step, and that helped me land safely.”
TingTing is among a group of Bell pilot instructors who are known around the world for providing top-tier customer service and customized training solutions for customers in various fields, including the military, private sector, and public safety agencies. The BTA’s Floyd Carlson Airfield recently celebrated its five-year anniversary milestone, and continues to pride itself on training more than 8,000 customers since it opened.